Houseplant · Asparagaceae
Foxtail Fern
Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers'
Give it bright indirect light and a pot that drains, and the foxtail fern throws up plumes like green bottle brushes.
Bright indirect
Every 7–10 days
50–77°F · 10–25°C
USDA 9–11
Overview
The foxtail fern is one of those plants that fools almost everyone with its name. It looks soft and feathery, but it's no fern at all. It belongs to the asparagus family, and instead of spores it flowers, sets small red berries, and grows from seed. The 'Myers' form sends up stiff, upright plumes that taper to a point, each one a fat green bottle brush.
What makes it an easy houseplant is the root. Below the soil sit fleshy tuberous roots that store water, so the plant shrugs off the odd missed watering far better than most. It wants bright indirect light, a pot that drains freely, and not much else. Left to grow, the clump spreads wide and full, which is why it earns its keep in a hanging basket or on a stand where the plumes can arch out.
It does carry a couple of catches. The whole plant is mildly toxic to cats and dogs, the bright berries most of all, and the sap can leave bare skin itchy. In frost-free regions it also escapes gardens and naturalizes, so it's a plant to keep in a pot and out of reach rather than loose in a warm-climate bed.
Care
The short version: bright indirect light, a free-draining pot, and water only once the top few centimeters of soil have dried. Feed monthly through spring and summer, keep it warm, and divide it when the tuberous roots start lifting it out of the pot.
Light
Give it bright indirect light, the kind near a window that gets sun but not the harsh midday beam. It puts up with partial sun and a bit of shade, though too little light leaves the plumes thin and pale and slows new growth.
Water
Water only when the top few centimeters of soil have dried out, roughly every 7 to 10 days. The tuberous roots bank their own moisture, so a little drying between drinks suits it, while constantly wet soil rots the roots. Ease off through winter when growth slows.
Soil
Plant it in a well-draining loamy potting mix that lets water run through rather than sit. A pH between 6.0 and 7.0, near neutral, keeps it happy. Sharp drainage matters more than anything, since soggy roots are the fastest way to lose it.
Temperature
Ordinary room warmth of 50°F to 77°F (10°C to 25°C) is the sweet spot. It's not frost-hardy, so keep it well away from cold windowsills and chilly drafts in winter.
Humidity
It does best with moderate humidity, around 40% to 60%, but it isn't fussy and copes with average indoor air. If the plume tips brown in a dry, heated room, raise the humidity nearby.
Feeding
Feed monthly from spring through summer with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer while it's actively growing. Stop over the colder months when growth idles, and flush the pot now and then so feeding salts don't build up.
Pruning
Cut spent or yellowed plumes off at the base to keep the clump neat and push out fresh upright growth. Tired or damaged stems can be cut back hard in spring to rejuvenate the plant. Wear gloves, since the sap can irritate skin.
Repotting
Repot every 2 to 3 years, or sooner once the swollen tuberous roots start shoving the plant up out of its pot. Other tells are roots circling the container and water running straight through without soaking in. Spring is the time to do it, often alongside dividing the clump.
Size & spacing
Indoors it reaches 24 to 35 inches (60 to 90 cm) tall and spreads wider still, 3 to 4 feet (90 to 120 cm) across. Give the clump room for the plumes to arch out, which is why it suits a stand or a hanging basket.
Troubleshooting
A foxtail fern tells you what's wrong through its plumes long before the whole plant suffers. Yellowing, shedding, and brown tips each point to a different fix. Match what you see below and adjust before it spreads.
Plumes turning yellow across the whole plant
Most of the time this is overwatering, with soggy soil stressing the tuberous roots until the plumes fade. Too little light or a hungry plant can do the same. Let the top few centimeters of soil dry before you water again, move it somewhere brighter, and start monthly feeding back up through the growing season.
Fix:
- Allow the top few centimeters of soil to dry before watering
- Move to a brighter spot with bright indirect light
- Resume monthly feeding during the growing season
Needle-like leaves shedding all over the floor
A foxtail fern that's gone too dry sheds its fine cladodes to cut its losses, and a sudden move or a cold draft can trigger the same drop. Water it well and settle into a steady rhythm. Keep it out of drafts and away from heat vents, in bright indirect light, and the shedding eases off.
Fix:
- Water thoroughly and maintain a consistent moisture cycle
- Keep the plant away from cold drafts and heat sources
- Provide steady bright indirect light
Brown, crispy tips on the plumes
Dry air is the usual culprit behind browning tips, though letting the soil run too dry or a buildup of fertilizer salts will scorch them too. Raise the humidity around the plant and keep the soil evenly moist while it's growing. Every so often, flush the pot with plain water to wash out the salts that collect from feeding.
Fix:
- Raise humidity around the plant
- Keep soil evenly moist during active growth
- Flush the soil periodically to leach excess salts
Toxicity
This is not a plant to grow within reach of pets. The sap and the showy red berries are the trouble, listed by the ASPCA under Asparagus Fern as toxic to cats and dogs, and the same sapogenins make it one to keep from horses, rabbits, and grazing stock. People aren't meant to eat any of it, the berries are mildly poisonous, and the sap can raise a rash, so wear gloves when you prune.
Toxic to
Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds · People
Cats Moderate
The sapogenins in this plant are listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats. A cat that nibbles the red berries usually gets vomiting, a sore belly, and loose stools, and brushing past the foliage again and again can leave its skin red and irritated.
Dogs Moderate
Dogs react the same way cats do. Chewing the berries brings on vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, while repeated contact with the cut stems can flare up an itchy dermatitis.
Horses Caution
There's no horse-specific report on file, but the same sapogenins behind the stomach upset in pets make this a plant to keep horses away from. Don't let one graze the foliage or the fallen berries.
Rabbits Caution
Treat it as off the menu for rabbits. The berries and the sapogenin-laden plant tissue can churn the gut, so keep the pot and any dropped fruit well out of reach.
Livestock Caution
Goats, sheep, and cattle face the same toxin if they get into the foliage or the ripe red berries. Fence the plant off or site it where stock can't browse it.
Birds Caution
Wild birds eat the berries and spread the seeds without harm, which is how it escapes into the wild, but a curious pet bird shouldn't be picking at the fruit. Keep it away from cage birds to be safe.
People Caution
No part of this plant is eaten, and the red berries are mildly poisonous if swallowed, so steer children clear of them. Handling the stems and sap bare-handed can leave a rash, so pull on gloves before you prune or repot.
Wear gloves when pruning or repotting, as repeated skin contact with the sap can cause allergic dermatitis.
Helpline numbers
United States
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (fee applies)
Poison Control: (800) 222-1222
Canada
Poison Centres: 1-844-764-7669
Varieties
Two forms of Asparagus densiflorus turn up under the asparagus fern name, and they grow nothing alike. Knowing which one you have tells you whether it stands up or trails down.
Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers'
This is the true foxtail, throwing up dense, upright plumes that taper to a point and look just like a bottle brush.
Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'
The everyday asparagus fern, it spills out in loose, arching, trailing stems instead of the stiff upright plumes of 'Myers'.
How to propagate
You can make more foxtail ferns the quick way by splitting a clump, or the slow way by sowing the seed from its berries.
DivisionEasy
Spring or early summer at repotting · 4 to 8 weeks
Division is the easy way to make more, and it pairs nicely with repotting in spring or early summer. Tip the plant out, then slice the fat tuberous clump into sections, making sure each piece carries both stems and roots. Pot the divisions up on their own and they settle in over the next 4 to 8 weeks.
SeedModerate
Spring · Several weeks to germinate, months to reach size
Growing from seed asks for more patience. In spring, pull the seed from the ripe red berries with gloves on, since the fruit can irritate skin, then sow it into a warm, moist mix. Expect germination to take several weeks and run unevenly, and count on months more before the seedlings reach any real size.
Myths
The foxtail fern is a true fern.
The name is misleading. It isn't a fern at all but a member of the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. Real ferns spread by spores, while this plant flowers, sets red berries, and grows from seed.
Because it's a fern, it must be safe around pets.
It's neither a fern nor safe. The ASPCA lists it under Asparagus Fern as toxic to cats and dogs, with the berries causing stomach upset and the sap leaving an itchy rash. Keep it well away from animals that like to chew.